Pocket lighter



Sept. 17, 1929. B. CURRLIN 1,728,395

I POCKET LIGHTER Filed July 5, 1929 [N VENZOR Ear/24rd Carr/122 BY r A TTORNE VS Patented Sept. 17-, 1929 UNITED STATES BERNARD GUBRLIN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO POCKET LIGHTER Application filed July 5, 1929. Serial No. 376,112.

The objects of the invention are: First, to improve the fuel reservoir and its securing means in such a lighter.

Second, to provide an improved bottom cover means for sealing the reservoir and affording accessibility to the fuel reservoir for filling.

Third, to improve the burner tip and wick means.

Fourth, to provide an improved construction of scratch pin and support.

Fifth, to provide improved metallic reinforcement for the cap.

Sixth, to provide improved holder means for the pyrophoric block.

Objects pertaining to detailsand economies of construction and operation will appear from the detailed description to follow. A structure which is a preferred embodiment 2 of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of the complete pocket lighter, somewhat enlarged.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail longitudinal central sectional elevation through the lighter, showing details of construction, taken on line 22 of Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the upper partof the structure on i section line 3-3, showing details ofconstruction.

Fig. 4 is a transverse detail sectional view on line 4-4: of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 isan enlarged detail plan view of the cap showing details of securing the pyrophoric block.

The parts will be identified by their nu- 4 merals of reference which are the same in all I the views.

1 is the body portion, preferably made of bakelite, casein, hard rubber, or some comparable material. Within the body 1 isthe open bottom reservoir 2 which is reduced to a neck 21 to form a burner tip. The open bottom of the reservoir 2 is swaged and reduced in diameter at the bottom, bein slightly tapered. The body 2 is rovide with a tapered shoulder 22 into w ich the bottom of the reservoir can be forced as a very tight fit. Owing to the intimate contact of the bakelite, after it is once forced to place it can only be removed with the greatest difliculty. r

The bottom end of the body 2 is internally screw threaded at 23. A metal or bakelite bottom cap 3 is screw threaded to fit the same and a fiber gasket 4 is provided to make a tight joint. The bottom cap 3 is slotted at 31 to receive a screw driver or the edge of a coin for removing the same. The cap 3 serves as the cover for the fuel reservoir.

The central portion of the reservoir 2 is made a close slide fit within the body 1, the bottom portion 7 being slightly reduced swages against the shoulder 22, holding the same very securely in place. The upper end of the reservoir is slightly deformed from a true circle, as will be seen by inspecting the cross section in Fig. 4. This makes the same a close rubbing fit within the cap and serves to retain the cap very securely by friction. The cap 5 thus fits snugly over the reservoir .and is provided with a square shoulder where it contacts with the top of the body 2, forming a substantially vapor tight joint. The cap 5 is provided with a metal bushing 6 which is cast into the bakelite cap 5. It is provided with three inwardly turned prongs 61, see Figs. 2 and 5. This makes a very effective joint and prevents the splitting of i the bakelite.

Transversely', in a dove-tailed recess, through the heavy part of the ca 5 is disposed the pyrophoric block 7. A ove-tailed seat is provided which has a suitable sheet metal liner 8 conformed to the dove-tail groove. This has lateral depressions 81, at each side of the center to serve as the en--' gaging means for the pyrophoric' block clip 9. The pyrophoric block 7 conforms to the dove-tailed liner 8 and. is separated at its upper edge from the sides of the block 7 so that it readily yieldsand permits the same to he slid laterally into place and engage yieldingly the depressions 81 provided.

The burner tip is made up in the neck 21 and comprises a block plug 10 flattened at its sides and retained in place by an indentation in the neck 21. The flattened sides form spaces for the reception of an asbestos wick or wicks 11, which extend from the burner tip well down to the bottom of the reservoir, which reservoir is filled with cotton or other absorbent material. This absorbent material contacts with the wick throughout its length and insures the delivery of fuel upwardly in proximity to the scratch pin.

An annular recess well 12 is formed in the upper end of the plug 10 to receive vapor and be constantly charged readyto be lighted when the scratch pin is operated. The wicks 11 extend about half-way up each side of the scratch pin for this purpose. The scratch pin 13 is provided with a scratcher head that is of slightly less diameter (about four thousandths of an inch) than the body of the pin, so that the pin can be readily driven into the burner tip plug from the inside end thereof. An annular groove is formed therein and it is retained by a prick from a prick-punch.

The head of the pin is tempered and hardened glass hard so that it is liable to injury if it receives'a blow such as would occur in dropping the lighter on a tile or cement floor. Such dropping would be quite sure to result in breakage so that I provide the -burner plug and pin so that they may be readily renewed.

The scratch pin is flat at the top with a convex surface back of the same, forming a sharp. edge. The surface is recurved outwardly to the outer surface of the pin.

From the description it will be seen that the yrophoric metal is very securely held in t e cap but is very readily removable. The scratch pin is guided to place, and, being glass hard, a very slight movement on the metal is sufiicient to strike sparks, light the vapor in the well, and, consequently,

the wick, as described.

The structure is capable of considerable variation without departing from my invention. I desire to claim the precise structure, and I desire to claim the same broadly as pointed out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is:

1. In a lighter, the combination of a body portion open at the top and having an inwardly projecting tapering shoulder near the bottom, an open bottom sheet metal reservoir with its barrel tightly fitting the top of the body and the bottom portion reduced and tapered to engagesaid tapered shoulder, 2. cap therefor conformed to fit the res ervoir and be retained by frictional contact, and a metallic reinforcement bushing in said cap with projecting lugs embedded in the walls of said cap, and a screw cap for the bottom of said body. 7

2. in a lighter, the combination of a body portion open at the top with an inwardly projecting tapering shoulder near the bottom, an open bottom sheet metal reservoir with its barrel tightly fitting the top of the body and the bottom portion reduced and tapered to engage said tapered shoulder, a cap therefor conformed to fit the reservoir and be retained by frictional contact, and a screw cap for the bottom. of said body.

3. In a lighter, the combination of a body portion open at the top and bottom, an open bottom sheet metal reservoir retained within the same, and a screw threaded cap for the bottom of said body beneath said metal reservoirs.

4. A lighter comprising a body, a cap with transverse dovetail slot at the top with a. central curved side depression, a concentral projections to engage the depres sions in the said dovetail recess.

6. A lighter comprising a body with a square open end, an inner reservoir projecting above the same, a cap corresponding to said reservoir with a square open end having an inner reinforcing bushing lining said cap closely engaging said reservoir, the said bushing having laterally inwardly projecting prongs imbedded in the wall of said cap.

7. A lighter comprising a cylindrical body with an open end having a square shoulder, an inner reservoir projecting above the same deformed from cylindrical, a cylindrical cap with an open end having a square shoulder to embrace the deformed cylindrical part of said reservoir and congormed to tightly close the outer end of said Iii witness whereof I have'hereunto set my hand.

- BERNARD CURRLIN. 

